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I tuned in late — did Dave talk about the passed ball situation with the dynamic “We mancrush on RoJo” duo?

Liam on
May 6th, 2010 12:45 pm

Not much about the catchers.

Paul B on
May 6th, 2010 12:46 pm

They talked quite a bit about Figgins.

And the need for someone to be a backup when Jack Wilson is hurt.

scott19 on
May 6th, 2010 12:52 pm

The intro: “Dave Cameron is next, he’s upset about passed balls or something, I don’t know…” and then they went to commercial.

Well, that’s because it obviously pained them so much to have to break away from the stupid incident in college golf they were yammering on about for like fifteen minutes to have to talk about such “trivial” issues like the Mariners’ season.

joser on
May 6th, 2010 1:04 pm

You know, I realize Dave has been banging the Luke Scott drum for quite a while now, but I don’t know how suitable a choice he is at this point. For one thing, he’s been batting so far this season like he was already playing for the Mariners. And while that might be viewed as an advantage, inasmuch as it might motivate the Orioles to move him (and at a lower price), how good of a fit is he to replace Sweeney? He can definitely play left field or first base, and that in itself makes him better than Sweeney, but he bats LH. So he’s not a platoon partner for Griffey, and he’s not a platoon partner for Kotchman. As an everyday LF he’d be fine, especially with Bradley out for an indefinite period, and maybe that makes him worth pursuing regardless (though do you really want an all LH outfield?)

But when the proposition is “Drop Sweeney and replace him with X”
I question whether Luke Scott is the guy who fills in that blank.

mlathrop3 on
May 6th, 2010 1:13 pm

joser – if we are shopping for Orioles I’d much rather have Wiggington. He has some position flexibility and can hit (gasp!) a HR or two as well.

mlathrop3 on
May 6th, 2010 1:22 pm

Hey – we know where Byrnes finally ended up though. I bet his slugging percentage will increase considerably. . Wow.

MBK on
May 6th, 2010 1:25 pm

Walk off the basepaths and crack a beverage because Eric Byrnes no longer has to work nights and is available to serve as a ringer in your local softball league.

It’s kind of a sad commentary on Byrnes, though, that he winds up going directly from the majors into rec-league softball when even Jose Canseco was able to hang around some indy leagues for a couple of years to try to latch on to some club.

scott19 on
May 6th, 2010 2:01 pm

Too funny…some guy just called their show and made a reference to the “designated huggers” — and Brock was wondering where it came from!

MrZDevotee on
May 6th, 2010 2:07 pm

Sad commentary? Seems pretty remarkable, to me.

Isn’t he doing exactly what we wish Griffey and Sweeney would do? He said in an interview about the softball topic that he felt his professional playing days were likely over. That’s incredibly self-aware for a pro athlete.

And hey, if you’re gonna get $11 million whether you’re on a pro roster or not, why not drink beer and hit dingers in the local softball league? Fewer critics when you miss a bunt sign. More opportuities to surf. (You can even “drag a blunt”, instead of drag a bunt, if you want…)

bermanator on
May 6th, 2010 2:15 pm

If the Orioles fans were in charge of the team, Seattle could get Scott for nothing — he and Atkins are bearing the brunt of the ire for the team’s slow start.

The Mariners could probably get him cheaply, since his slump is approaching the one-year mark, but though Andy MacPhail is getting angry, he’s not a guy who will give assets away for free.

scott19 on
May 6th, 2010 2:27 pm

More opportuities to surf.

Too bad Jeff Weaver is still slogging along with the Dodgers these days…EB’s softball team could recruit him as a starter. 🙂

kinbote on
May 6th, 2010 3:04 pm

Does the beer league have to pay a portion of his salary?

joser on
May 6th, 2010 3:23 pm

Too bad Jeff Weaver is still slogging along with the Dodgers these days…EB’s softball team could recruit him as a starter.

And Khalil Greene! The All-Spicoli Team would be complete!

Does the beer league have to pay a portion of his salary?

If they do, they can probably also get in on MLB revenue sharing to make up for it (and more! The first beer-league softball team that not only pays a player the MLB league minimum, it also makes money while doing so… just like the Florida Marlins!)

scott19 on
May 6th, 2010 6:25 pm

Thanks for passing along that story on the Marlins, Joser. Though I hadn’t gotten my official Loria/Samson Loathe Fest of the Week in yet, at least I got some satisfaction out of the fact that Bud-Man is finally starting to crack down on their shenanigans just a bit.

Still a bummer that they’re getting a new park, though — especially since BC Place up in Van is now getting a retractable roof which could *plausibly* make it somewhat more baseball-friendly in the future.

joser on
May 7th, 2010 11:29 am

Oh, I have a whole file of stories about “evil genius” Loria.
(I am kind of proud of this though).

I’m glad the fans of Miami are getting a better park — they just deserve a much better owner. South Florida, with its Cuban population and Caribbean connections, should be a great place for great baseball, and deserve a good place to watch (though it’s a shame they have to pay for it, considering all the hand-outs Loria has accumulated from the region and MLB over the years). That said, it is proof of the perversity of the universe that the Marlins already have two WS championships and certain other, older teams have none.

And while I personally like the idea of moving an NL team to Vancouver, or expanding there, I’m doubtful the city would actually support it enough to make it financially viable. It’s enough that they’re getting an MLS team next year, I think.

scott19 on
May 7th, 2010 12:55 pm

Joser —

Totally with you there on Miami. For as much baseball as is played on all levels there, it indeed should be a “natural” market for the game. I think the new stadium will help at least a bit in that regard…though I think we both agree that team definitely needs an ownership change to go with it. (P.S.: Too bad the guys who have the Rays these days can’t also run the Marlins as well — they could work wonders with that franchise!).

As for Van-City, it’s mostly wishful thinking on my part, I know (which usually rears its head every June when the M’s have to fly two-plus hours on a plane to go play their “hated crosstown rivals,” the Padres!). YVR is kind of a different market for baseball in a way. They’ve had minor league teams there forever…and, while the M’s no doubt take a backseat to the Canucks and Lions, both they and the Jays have also always had their fair share of fans there as well — not to mention that BC has been turning out a pretty good crop of major leaguers in recent years, too. So, from a viability standpoint, I’m not sure how that would shake out.

Though, speaking of natural rivalries, it will be kind of cool for the Sounders to get one back next year when the Whitecaps go MLS! 🙂